Bellator 300: Liz Carmouche TKOs Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

• October 8, 2023

SAN DIEGO — A scheduled Flyweight championship bout between Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and Liz Carmouche fell through after Macfarlane failed to make weight before Saturday’s Bellator 300 event at Pechanga Arena.

The fight was instead fought as a Catchweight bout, and Carmouche’s belt was not on the line.

Not that it would’ve mattered. Carmouche prevailed by TKO in the fifth round after injuring Macfarlane’s knee.

The fight between two women with San Diego ties was one of three of Saturday’s main-event mixed martial arts bouts. The event also included a 13-fight undercard.

Macfarlane, a San Diego State graduate who hails from Honolulu, weighed in at 126.6 pounds on Friday — above the 125-pound weight limit. As a result, Carmouche’s Flyweight belt was not on the line.

The two longtime training partners nonetheless engaged in a scrappy fight that turned in the third round when Carmouche caught Macfarlane with a nasty right kick to the left knee area.

Macfarlane, who had a slight edge after the first two rounds, briefly went down from that kick and did so again later in the third when Carmouche caught her in the same area.

Macfarlane gamely fought on, but struggled to put weight on the injured leg the remainder of the fight.

Carmouche continued to target Macfarlane’s left knee in the fourth round, dropping her twice again while consistently staying out of Macfarlane’s punching range with good footwork and an occasional jab.

Carmouche, who goes by the nickname “The Girl-Rilla” ended the fight early in the fifth with yet another hard right kick to Macfarlane’s injured knee and was awarded the victory via TKO.

Macfarlane left the ring on a cart and immediately received medical attention in the dressing area.

Carmouche, who lives in San Diego and trains out of The Arena MMA, earned her seventh consecutive victory and improved to 20-7. Macfarlane, a former Flyweight champion, fell to 13-3.

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t difficult,” Carmouche said. “She’s a friend and it was really hard. There’s several friends I’d much rather get into the ring against. She has helped Bellator so much. If it wasn’t for Ilima, I wouldn’t be here. None of us would be here. So, hats off to Ilima. She showed heart and didn’t stop.”

Macfarlane’s failure to make weight put a further damper on an event that originally was scheduled to feature four title fights.

Linton Vassell was forced to back out of his scheduled Heavyweight title fight with division champ Ryan Bader last week due to an undisclosed illness.

The night’s two main events saw Cris Cyborg retain her Featherweight title with a first-round TKO of Cat Zingano, who lives and trains out of San Diego. Usman Nurmagomedov successfully defend his Lightweight title with a win via fifth-round decision over Brent Primus.

Bishop remains undefeated

Jena Bishop, who lives and trains out of San Diego, improved to 6-0 (3-0 in Bellator series) with an impressive first-round victory via armbar submission over Ilara Joanne (11-8) in front of a slew of cheering friends and family.

Bishop (Alliance Jiu Jitsu San Diego) entered the event as the 80th ranked Flyweight worldwide and 18th in the United States. Three of her victories have come via submission and it was her first such victory since joining Bellator.

“I knew she was tough, so I was just happy to get my first win with a submission in Bellator,” Bishop said. “It was fought at a super fast pace and I just wanted to be the aggressor right from the start, really put the pressure on and it worked out.”

Bishop said she’s ready for her night fight as soon as possible.

“I’ll take on anyone they put in front of me,” Bishop said. “Just whatever comes along. I’ll continue to train hard and be ready.”

Notable

Alberto Garcia (Escondido Fight Club) lost a tough three-round Bantamweight bout to the favored Bobby Seronio III and Herman Terrado (San Diego’s Und1sputed Boxing and MMA) was defeated in three rounds by Mukhamed Berkhamov in a Middleweight bout.

​ Orange County Register 

Lakers start strong but falter late in preseason opener against Warriors

• October 8, 2023

It was known well before tipoff that team-wide assessments would be difficult to decipher from the Lakers’ first game in five months.

With LeBron James and Austin Reaves dressed in street clothes as healthy scratches for Saturday’s preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers were down two of their top players and ball handlers in the 127-110 loss at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

So when the Lakers, who led by as many as four points midway through the first quarter, started to rely on their depth, their grasp on the game slipped.

The Warriors’ bench outscored the Laker reserves 91-53. It didn’t help that the Lakers struggled to contain Golden State in transition – a deficiency that existed last season as well.

But again, it’s just the first preseason game. Transition defense and the rotation are details the Lakers have the opportunity to iron out over the next couple of weeks before games begin to count in the regular-season standings.

With James and Reaves out, only two known-to-the-public starters were available against the Warriors: Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell.

Both had their bright moments in limited playing time, with neither playing in the second half.

Davis controlled the paint on both ends of the court – deterring the Warriors from even taking shots near the rim when he was on the floor and attacking the paint aggressively offensively.

He finished with 15 points (6-of-11 shooting) and five rebounds in 13 minutes. The most encouraging part of Davis’ play from Saturday: he fluidly knocked down two of his three 3-point attempts.

With James and Reaves sitting out, Russell’s skillset as an on-ball decision-maker shined, especially in the second quarter. He finished with 15 points (6-of-10 shooting, 2 for 3 from 3-point range) and five assists in 15 first-half minutes.

Rui Hachimura also scored in double figures: 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting to go with seven rebounds in 21 minutes.

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Second-year guard Max Christie (15 points on 6-of-10 shooting in 25 minutes) found his rhythm in the third quarter.

Cam Reddish (one point on 0-of-4 shooting in 18 minutes), Christian Wood (five points on 2-of-8 shooting with four rebounds in 20 minutes) and Taurean Prince (two points on 1-of-5 shooting) struggled in their first games as Lakers.

Reddish left the game early in the fourth because of a sprained right ankle. Prince fouled out, recording his sixth foul in 13 minutes played midway through the fourth.

The Warriors, who also limited their starters to first-half minutes, were led by Jonathan Kuminga’s 24 points (8-of-14 shooting), eight rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.

The Lakers next play Monday night in Las Vegas against the Brooklyn Nets.

​ Orange County Register 

USC’s Raleek Brown out for Arizona game as father confirms redshirt status

• October 8, 2023

One of the strangest subplots in USC’s 5-0 start raged on ahead of Saturday night’s kickoff, as sophomore wide receiver Raleek Brown — one of the Trojans’ most electrifying skill players as a freshman — wasn’t anywhere to be seen at the Coliseum in warm-ups against Arizona.

After making a spring transition from running back to receiver, the 5-foot-8 Brown has suited up in just one game this year and has been frequently seen working with the scout team during practice media availability. In early September, the Southern California News Group reported Brown was planning to redshirt his sophomore year, which head coach Lincoln Riley didn’t fully dispute.

“He’s looking at the possibility of redshirting, that’s part of the world right now,” Riley said Sept. 5. “We’ll see what happens. I mean, I could certainly foresee him being a big part of the team this year.”

That possibility is all but reality, now, as Brown’s father Roscoe confirmed to SCNG Saturday night that the sophomore was set on redshirting in 2023.

Brown had been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury, Roscoe previously said, and hasn’t seen a role materialize in a packed Trojans receiver room even after a six-touchdown freshman year.

“You see guys make big changes, and the transition for him was and is a big change,” Riley said Sept. 5. “And it’s not always perfect in the beginning.”

Injury updates against Arizona

After not dressing for USC’s trip to Colorado last week, both safety Max Williams and freshman receiver Zachariah Branch were seen back practicing with the Trojans on Tuesday, a sign they could return for Saturday’s game against Arizona.

“Hopeful to be able to have them both,” Riley said Tuesday, adding he didn’t think either’s injury was long-term.

Williams, indeed, was dropping back again in the secondary on Saturday night against Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, making his second straight start himself in place of injured Wildcats signal-caller Jayden De Laura. Branch, though, was in sweats for the second consecutive week, leaving USC without one of its most dynamic playmakers and leading kick returner. Freshman Makai Lemon again filled in for Branch on kickoffs Saturday.

Cornerback Domani Jackson, meanwhile, didn’t suit up for USC on Saturday with injury, leaving the Trojans down a starting corner against Arizona. Jackson struggled against Colorado and had a shaky beginning to the year, but had shown widespread growth across the past three games after an injury-plagued freshman year.

Arizona transfer Christian Roland-Wallace, as expected, manned one of the corner spots Saturday against his former program. But in a slight surprise, redshirt junior Jacobe Covington started in place of Ceyair Wright against Arizona.

“He’s started becoming more consistent on the practice field,” Riley said of Covington Tuesday, “so he’s a guy we’re pointing to, along with Domani, along with Ceyair, that we want those guys to continue to come along.”

Defensive lineman Korey Foreman, as well, didn’t dress Saturday as Riley told media Tuesday USC was “exploring” redshirting Foreman for his junior year.

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​ Orange County Register 

Muth wins American Pharoah Stakes, earns Breeders’ Cup Juvenile berth

• October 8, 2023

Muth, one of the top 2-year-olds in trainer Bob Baffert’s barn, blew away his seven rivals in the $300,000 Grade I American Pharoah Stakes on Saturday and earned an all-expenses paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

A Good Magic colt, Muth won by 8 3/4 lengths at Santa Anita on June 18 and then ran second behind perhaps Baffert’s top 2-year-old, Prince of Monaco, in the Grade III Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 13.

Muth beat stablemate Wine Me Up by 3 3/4 lengths as the 2-5 favorite Saturday under Juan Hernandez, running the 1 1/16 miles in a very good 1:42.45 in his first try around two turns.

He’s won his two starts at Santa Anita by a combined 12 1/2 lengths.

“I love the way Muth settled (fourth up the backside),” said Baffert, who won his record 12th American Pharoah and fifth in the past six runnings. “When I saw that I thought well we’ll see how good he is and I think Juan just helped him a lot today. It is nice when you have two nice colts. (Wine Me Up) definitely earned his way into the Breeders’ Cup. We still have Prince of Monaco too. We just have to keep them healthy.”

Muth, a $2 million yearling purchase, earned $180,000 with Saturday’s victory that padded his career bankroll to $256,600.

“He surprised me the way he relaxed today because he is normally a really aggressive horse,” Hernandez said. “Out of the gate he’s fast. Bob and his team have been working with him trying to get him to relax. I saw him during morning workouts and they put him behind a horse and he relaxed really well.”

Hernandez then went on to lay some lavish praise on Muth.

“I think this is the best horse I’ve ever ridden so far,” he said. “I mean Cave Rock was one of the best, but this one is pretty close. Hopefully we can stay healthy and we can get him in the Breeders’ Cup.”

Chandelier Stakes

Chatalas, the 3-1 third choice with Antonio Fresu aboard, went gate to wire and beat Scalable by 1 1/2 lengths in the $200,000 Grade II race to earn an all-expenses paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 3.

Final time for the Gun Runner filly was 1:44.28 for the 1 1/16 miles.

“We’ve always felt the further she went the better she would be,” winning trainer Mark Glatt said. “A little disappointed with the (Del Mar) Debutante performance (fourth place), but I look back on it and she was fairly close to 44 (seconds) fractions. That’s just not her.”

Rodeo Drive

Even-money favorite Didia, shipping in for the race, made short work of her rivals in the $300,000 Grade II turf race for fillies and mares. Trained by Ignacio Correas IV and ridden by Vincent Cheminaud, the 5-year-old Orpen mare guaranteed herself an all-expenses paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 4.

Didia beat Anisette by 1 3/4 lengths while running the mile and a quarter in 1:59.79.

“The filly was training really good,” Correas said. “The filly will stay here for the Breeders’ Cup. She is a really good filly so I’m not worried.”

​ Orange County Register 

Swanson: UCLA’s defense is having its star turn

• October 8, 2023

PASADENA – Funnily enough, here in Los Angeles, the on-the-field story this college football season so far isn’t the star QBs. Not reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, not UCLA’s true freshman Dante Moore, the highest-rated QB recruit in program history.

Not either of those football team’s famous coaches, Lincoln Riley or Chip Kelly.

Nah, it’s been defense driving the plot.

How poor and porous the Trojans’ has been under returning defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. And how rabid and unrelenting the Bruins has been under first-time defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.

How USC started its Pac-12 slate winning in spite of its defense. And how UCLA is being held aloft by its defensive unit, whose suffocating prowess has helped take some of the pressure off the quarterback who’s learning on the job – including Saturday in the Bruins’ 25-17 victory over No. 13 Washington State, in which the Cougars’ heralded offense struggled more than the score would indicate.

Lynn is new around here too, but you wouldn’t know it.

His hire in February is Kelly’s best play call all year.

Just 33, Lynn arrived at UCLA (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) after overseeing the defensive backs and safeties the previous two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He was a three-time All-Big Ten defensive back from Penn State, but he’d never coached at the college level.

The move to hire Lynn – the son of former Chargers coach Anthony Lynn – was something of a departure for Kelly, who’s known for bringing in coaches who have more experience, and more experience with him.

But Kelly went another way this time. The Bruins needed a defensive coordinator after Bill McGovern, their respected coach with 40 years of experience, died of cancer in May at the age of 60.

UCLA reportedly are paying Lynn $1.02 million per year, a record for an assistant holing his position. The investment is paying off.

“He just brings a whole engine energy to this team, to this defense,” senior defensive back Alex Johnson said. “He also lets us be free within our positions. We’re always able to ask questions or give feedback, give comments. So that open communication has allowed us to play more freely. I think that’s been shown on Saturdays.”

All that freedom of thought and expression has locked up the Bruins’ opponents – starting with the relative pushovers in their nonconference schedule and continuing now against the Pac-12’s much more explosive teams, like Washington State and their star signal-caller Cameron Ward on Saturday.

The Trojans stymied Ward and the previously undefeated Cougars, who had the nation’s fourth-ranked total offense and second-ranked passing unit. Ward was completing 75% of his passes, and had thrown 13 touchdown passes without a turnover through the first five games.

In the heat against the Bruins’ swarming, suffocating and, more than anything, stubborn defense, he wilted.

UCLA held the Cougars to 216 yards, and allowed them to convert just two of their 13 third-down plays. The Bruins also forced a season-high four turnovers – two of them interceptions. And the Bruins sacked Ward three times for 25 yards Saturday, making sure his Heisman Trophy candidacy lost ground too.

“Secondary-wise, there’s been a bigger emphasis on plastering routes when the plays breakdown,” explained Johnson, who intercepted a pass (his third this season) and returned it 31 yards in the second quarter, setting up a UCLA field goal.

“I mean, the Pac-12 is riddled with athletic quarterbacks who can extend plays, get loose. So having that bigger emphasis on that just makes our job a lot more easier. But we’re also just prepared to, maybe the play goes for 16 seconds, not four, so we’re always ready for whatever offense is bringing to us.”

After holding Utah to just one offensive touchdown in its last game, the Bruins slowed Washington State to a crawl too, holding the Cougars without an offensive TD in the first half and on their first 10 possessions in the game.

“Cam Ward, everyone knows he’s a good, top-five quarterback,” defensive lineman Carl Jones Jr. said. “… and he got frustrated a lot.”

It wasn’t just Ward who had to have been fed up: The Bruins limited Washington State’s running backs just 12 (12!) rushing yards.

The Cougars (4-1, 1-1) became the fourth consecutive opponent UCLA has held to fewer than 300 yards of total offense. The last time a Bruins defense did that? Back in 2006.

See, these Bruins, they’re rewriting history – on the defensive side of the ball.

“That entire defensive staff, led by (Lynn), did an unbelievable job,” Kelly said. “That was the No. 2 ranked passing offense in the country. Outstanding.”

Or the appreciative young quarterback Moore said: “Defense wins football games.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers, Diamondbacks reveal NLDS rosters, still waiting to reveal Game 3 starters

• October 8, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks have an off-day before and after Game 2 of the National League Division Series.

Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that neither team’s manager was in any rush Saturday to anoint a starting pitcher for Wednesday’s Game 3. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Game 3 is the “natural spot” for right-hander Brandon Pfaadt to start, but he declined to officially name a starter.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wouldn’t even go that far. Both Lance Lynn and Ryan Pepiot are “in play” for Game 3, he said, but neither right-hander has been officially chosen for the assignment.

It won’t be left-hander Ryan Yarbrough.

Yarbrough and infielder Amed Rosario were not among the 13 pitchers and 13 position players chosen for the Dodgers’ NLDS roster. The group includes five newcomers to postseason play: pitchers Bobby Miller, Michael Grove, Emmet Sheehan, Ryan Pepiot, and outfielder James Outman.

Rosario, whom the Dodgers acquired from the Cleveland Guardians for pitcher Noah Syndergaard in late July, batted .256 with a .709 OPS in 48 games.

“It was more driven by the fact that we have Kiké (Hernandez) and (Chris Taylor) that are versatile players from the right side,” Roberts said, “and having Amed, without a left-handed starter going for them, is a little redundant. And so to have a left-handed bat in Kolten (Wong), who you could have come out of some hitting situations, on the bench we felt was a lot of value.”

Yarbrough, a midseason acquisition from Kansas City, went 4-2 with a 4.89 ERA in 11 games (two starts) after the trade. He averaged nearly three innings per appearance and could be more valuable to the Dodgers in a best-of-seven series than the best-of-five NLDS.

Teams are allowed to reset their 26-man rosters after every postseason round.

OLD FRIENDS

Dodgers star Mookie Betts and Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo shared a hug in the middle of Lovullo’s press conference Friday.

“Sorry guys, gotta give him a hug,” Betts said before their embrace. “He raised me.”

Lovullo got to know Betts as the Boston Red Sox’s bench coach from 2013-16, spanning the first three seasons of Betts’ major league career. Saturday, Lovullo expanded on how their relationship began and persisted into the present.

“I love Mookie Betts. I love him like my own child,” Lovullo said of Betts. “And we, I think, have a very unique bond that we both understand. I cheer for him and pull for him professionally and personally. We stay in contact throughout the course of the year, mostly via text, and I pridefully watch him in his success. And there’s just a mutual level of respect and admiration.

“Once we get between the white lines, though, it’s on,” Lovullo continued. “It’s all about competition and I get the front row seat to watch him compete, and I love that. But my relationship and my friendship means more to me than people might even have a clue about. For him to walk in here yesterday, that’s the norm for him and I.”

BOOKENDS

Dodgers outfielder David Peralta, who has played the third-most games of anyone in Diamondbacks history, downplayed any effect his 18 seasons in the organization might hold for him in the NLDS.

“I don’t care who is over there, to be honest,” he said. “The D-Backs or another team, we just have to play the game.”

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This NLDS will be an appropriate bookend to his first. In 2017, the Dodgers eliminated Peralta’s Diamondbacks in a three-game sweep.

What does Peralta remember about that year?

“Losing against the Dodgers,” he said.

ALSO

The Dodgers are expecting the Chase Field roof will be open for Games 3 and 4 (if necessary). Arizona’s home park historically plays more hitter-friendly with the roof open than closed. … The rock band Guns N’ Roses had booked Chase Field for Wednesday, the night of Game 3, but was forced to move to an alternate venue when the Diamondbacks beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild-card round. … Lovullo, a San Fernando Valley native, planned to enjoy Sunday’s off-day in Los Angeles between Games 1 and 2. “We’re going to have probably a nice family dinner somewhere along the path,” he said. “My mom is setting it up right now.”

UP NEXT

Arizona Diamondbacks (RHP Zac Gallen, 17-9, 3.47 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Bobby Miller, 11-4, 3.76 ERA), Monday, 6 p.m., TBS, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Kings blow leads in exhibition loss against Golden Knights

• October 8, 2023

LOS ANGELES –– Meet the 2023-24 Kings, who looked suspiciously like the Kings of years past on Saturday.

Then, a very close approximation of the opening-night lineup blew leads of 3-1 and 4-3 in a matinee exhibition match against the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings have emerged as at least outside threats to win it all, but some of Coach Todd McLellan’s comments after a 7-4 loss sounded more like comments he made early last season or even during the acrid 2020-2021 campaign that was less to be played and more to be endured.

“We weren’t good on any type of sort-outs coming into our end as far as backcheck goes, our net play wasn’t real good, lots of loose stuff laying around there that they got second opportunities on,” McLellan said.

Yet McLellan, along with veterans like Matt Roy, said that overall he felt his club was in a solid position just four days before it was set to open its campaign against the Colorado Avalanche. Indeed it was an unusual preseason that pitted the Kings against not only nine opponents but also odd circumstances as they played games in San Diego, Salt Lake City and Melbourne, Australia during a magical mystery tour on ice.

“There’s a little bit of disappointment because we started the night well, we got sloppy, we took some unwarranted penalties –– we just didn’t get it done tonight,” McLellan said. “We know what’s ahead of us and that’s exciting, but this training camp has been, certainly, an odd one … the relief is that we came out of this healthy.”

While the Kings were healthy and, barring anything unforeseen, will be on Wednesday as well, they were without winger Arthur Kaliyev. He was suspended for the Kings’ final two exhibition games and their first two regular-season contests for kneeing Ducks forward Chase De Leo.

That led the Kings to experiment with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman configuration that was admittedly cumbersome at some points. Due to salary-cap constraints, the Kings will likely play at least part of the season with fewer than the standard 23 roster players and potentially have to dress fewer than the permitted 20 competitors at times.

“It was the first time that we’ve tried 11-and-7 in a long, long time, and based on some of the circumstances that we’ll face throughout the year we may have to do it,” McLellan said. “It’s good for the players to experience, I would prefer not to do it but we may be forced to do it sometimes.”

Both McLellan and Roy said the Kings’ game was further disrupted by the volume, untimeliness and evitability of the Kings’ half-dozen minor penalties. A frustrated McLellan said that, eventually, the solution might be “welding somebody’s (rear end) to the bench.”

Fiala and Dubois Shine

Two seasons ago, Kings general manager Rob Blake eschewed the opportunity to give up theretofore inconsistent prospects in exchange for Vegas center Jack Eichel, who hoisted the Cup last year and scored five points Saturday to overshadow postseason MVP Jonathan Marchessault’s four-point outburst. But Blake coveted similar players who were in their 20s with runway left in their career, and he acquired one in each of the past two offseasons with winger Kevin Fiala and center Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Fiala had at least one point in each of the four preseason games in which he played and Dubois finished the exhibition schedule on a three-game point streak. They transported the puck on a rush started and finished by Roy, and later tallied on a textbook four-on-four sequence where Dubois circled the offensive zone to find Fiala for a goal from between the circles.

“It’s going well, he’s a really good player so it’s easy to play with good players. You’ve just got to find the openings and communicate, on and off the ice,” Dubois said. “He’s a great guy off the ice so he’s been easy to get to know and talk to. There’s a lot of games, it’s a long season, and we want to improve every day.”

Talbot Teeters

A less prominent but perhaps no less critical acquisition this offseason for the Kings was veteran goalie Cam Talbot, who did little to alleviate the Kings’ burden in their own zone Saturday. He ceded six goals on 34 shots against, due in part to rebound control issues.

Still, to a man, the Kings expressed confidence in Talbot’s ability to contribute to what could be a three-goalie rotation this season with Talbot leading the way for Pheonix Copley and David Rittich.

“I’m sure he’d rather have a couple of the goals back tonight, something that he could squeeze or clean up around the paint,” said McLellan, who coached Talbot previously in Edmonton. “I’ve seen him take care of that multiple times, I’m not worried about that, I think that will get done.”

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UCLA clamps down to defeat No. 13 Washington State

• October 8, 2023

PASADENA — Defense kept UCLA in the game during a first half that included mistakes and missed opportunities. The run game took the Bruins the rest of the way, scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for a 25-17 victory over No. 13 Washington State on Sunday at the Rose Bowl.

UCLA (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) held Washington State (4-1, 1-1) to 216 total yards of offense and the defense forced Washington State quarterback Cam Ward to throw his first two interceptions of the season and two Cougars fumbles.

The Cougars came into the game averaging nearly 46 points per game, with victories over No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 13 Oregon State. Ward, who in four games had thrown for 1,389 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 75% of his passes (106 of 142), finished 19 of 39 for 197 yards and one touchdown.

His counterpart, Bruins true freshman Dante Moore, finished 22 of 44 for 290 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Washington State put up only a field goal in the first quarter as the defense continued to apply pressure. Edge rusher Laiatu Latu sacked Ward for a loss of six yards with roughly five seconds left in the quarter, then forced a fumble, which defensive lineman Keanu Williams recovered.

The Bruins were unable to score on the ensuing drive. The series ended with Moore getting sacked for a loss of nine yards.

UCLA defensive back Jordan Anderson forced a fumble to begin the second quarter and Choé Bryant-Strother recovered to get UCLA’s offense moving again. Running back Carson Steele was given the ball four times for 17 yards and help set up the Bruins’ first touchdown. Moore sent an 11-yard pass to Logan Loya, who made the catch in the end zone in front of a cluster of photographers and abruptly posed with his chest out and hands down. RJ Lopez missed the extra point for a 6-3 lead.

Steele carried 30 times for a game-high 140 yards to lead a 192-yard ground attack.

UCLA’s Alex Johnson hauled in Ward’s first interception of the season with five minutes until halftime. The Bruins later appeared poised to build on their 9-3 lead near the end of the second quarter, but the Cougars’ Kapena Gushiken crossed in front of Moore on a slant to the right, jumping and catching the ball in his solar plexus and returning it 88 yards for a 10-9 lead with seven seconds left.

Lopez made a 32-yard field goal to give UCLA a 12-10 advantage at 7:25 of the third quarter after a touchdown pass to J.Michael Sturdivant was called back.

The officiating continued to go against the Bruins when Bryant-Strother was dismissed from the game due to a targeting call. The penalty moved Washington State to the 9-yard line, and Ward threw a touchdown pass to Nakia Watson on the next play. UCLA went for a field goal on its next drive, but Lopez’s 33-yard attempt was blocked.

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With UCLA’s defense stepping up, Bruins running back Keegan Jones punctuated the next two drives with touchdown runs, from 13 and 22 yards, to give UCLA a 25-17 advantage with 11:45 remaining.

Washington State got the ball with back with more than four minutes left and moved it to the UCLA 40. But the Bruins’ defense flexed its muscles again, stopping a 4th-and-1 keeper by Ward to force a turnover on downs.

​ Orange County Register